Riser pads. You might have seen them, maybe even used them, but are they truly necessary? It’s easy to add them to your setup without fully understanding their purpose. This guide dives deep into the world of riser pads, exploring when they’re beneficial and when they might actually hinder your ride, whether you’re into skateboarding or cruising on a longboard.
Riser pads come in a variety of sizes, from thin shock pads to thick risers. They can even be angled to enhance turning. However, for skateboarders, it’s crucial to avoid anything thicker than 1/8″, as this can negatively impact your ability to perform tricks. While there are some advantages to using them, the disadvantages often outweigh the benefits for many riders. Generally, thin 1/16″ shock pads are acceptable, but thicker risers are better suited for longboards and cruisers.
Riser pads attached to skateboard trucks, highlighting their placement between the deck and trucks
Understanding the Purpose of Skateboard Riser Pads
Riser pads primarily serve one purpose: increasing the space between your board’s deck and the wheels. This is particularly useful in preventing “wheel bite,” a frustrating occurrence when the wheels rub against the deck during a turn, causing your board to stop abruptly.
Angled riser pads take this a step further. They’re designed to optimize your turning radius without compromising your balance, making them essential for carving on a skateboard, longboard, or cruiser. If you’re looking to carve smoothly, angled riser pads can make turning significantly easier.
Close-up showing safe clearance on a skateboard, preventing wheel bite
The need for riser pads often depends on factors like your weight and the hardness of your bushings. If your bushings are too soft, or if you prefer them that way, the chances of wheel bite increase. In general, technical street skaters should usually avoid using riser pads, as even though thin shock pads might not hurt performance, thicker risers can make tricks more challenging. However, if you like to cruise around and do a few basic tricks, you may find a small benefit in using risers.
Riser Pads vs. Shock Pads: What’s the Difference?
While both riser pads and shock pads add height to your setup, they serve slightly different purposes. Standard hard riser pads primarily focus on increasing wheel clearance to prevent wheel bite. Shock pads, on the other hand, aim to both prevent wheel bite and absorb vibrations, reducing the risk of pressure cracks and improving comfort, especially on rough surfaces. They’re typically made of rubber and are softer than standard risers.
Shock pads usually come in 1/8″ thickness, which offers minimal extra clearance. If you use wheels larger than 57mm, they might not be sufficient to completely eliminate wheel bite depending on your truck tightness. Ultimately, while riser pads elevate your board, they also raise your center of gravity, potentially impacting stability. This is why thicker risers are often favored by longboarders and cruisers rather than skateboarders.
Different Types of Riser Pads Explained
Riser pads aren’t one-size-fits-all. They come in different sizes, angles, and hardness levels. For skateboarders, the options are simpler, but longboarders and cruisers often explore a wider range of options. Here’s a breakdown:
Standard Riser Pads
These are the most commonly used type, typically ranging from 1/8″ to 1/4″ thick. Standard riser pads increase the clearance between your wheels and deck. While the thinner options are occasionally seen on skateboards, larger risers are primarily used on longboards and cruisers.
Wedged or Angled Riser Pads
Designed for longboards and cruisers, angled riser pads are not usually used for skateboarding. They enhance your turning radius and are beneficial for carving. Depending on their angle and how they are set up, they can make your board extremely responsive. These pads come in various sizes and hardness levels, with softer options allowing for even deeper carving.
Shock Pads
Shock pads are primarily designed to reduce vibrations and impacts. In addition, they provide some additional protection for your board against pressure cracks, specifically in areas where the baseplates are attached. Shock pads are commonly available in 1/16″ and 1/8″ thicknesses. While you can stack them, opting for bigger standard risers can be a better alternative if you need additional height.
When Do You Really Need Riser Pads?
The main reason to use riser pads is to prevent wheel bite. When you make a sharp turn, wheel bite causes your wheels to catch on the deck, bringing your board to a sudden halt and potentially causing you to fall. Riser pads can help prevent this by providing more clearance.
Determining if you need riser pads is not always straightforward. It depends on a number of factors, including:
- Your weight
- The hardness of your bushings
- The diameter of your wheels
- The tightness of your trucks
Here’s a general guide that takes into account wheel diameter, weight, and hardware:
| Wheel size (mm) | Riser size (inch) | 7-Ply deck Hardware length (inch) | 8-Ply or 9-Ply deck hardware length (inch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49mm – 54mm | No risers | 7⁄8″ | 1 1⁄8″ |
| 55mm – 56mm | No need if you ride trucks tight | 7⁄8″ | 1 1⁄8″ |
| 55mm – 56mm | 1⁄8″ if you ride loose trucks | 1 1⁄8 – 1 1⁄4 | 1 1⁄4 – 1 1⁄2″ |
| 57mm – 58mm | 1⁄8″ | 1 1⁄8 – 1 1⁄4 | 1 1⁄4 – 1 1⁄2″ |
| 59mm – 60mm | 1⁄8″ – 1⁄4″ | 1 1⁄8″ – 1 1⁄4″ | 1 1⁄4″ – 1 1⁄2″ |
If your wheels are 57mm or larger, you may want to consider riser pads. Even with 56mm wheels, if you prefer a loose truck setup you might benefit from using 1/16″ or 1/8″ shock pads. This should give you peace of mind about wheel bite when you are trying tricks or deep carving.
The Pros and Cons of Using Riser Pads
While the main function of riser pads is preventing wheel bite, there are some secondary pros and cons that are worth considering:
Pros of Riser Pads
- Increased Pop: Some riders find that the extra height provided by risers increases the distance between their tail and the ground which may potentially lead to higher ollies. While technique is a huge part of this, the extra room may be helpful.
- Reduced Wheel Bite: As we have covered, risers add extra clearance, making it less likely for your wheels to rub against your deck, particularly on hard turns.
Cons of Riser Pads
- Higher Center of Gravity: Riser pads elevate your board, raising your center of gravity, which can reduce your board’s stability.
- Difficulty Landing Tricks: Adding thicker riser pads, particularly anything over 1/8″ can make it harder to land tricks.
Ultimately, while you might adjust to the extra height, if the cons outweigh the pros, it might not make sense to use riser pads.
Conclusion: Are Riser Pads Right For You?
Riser pads can be beneficial but it is important to use them correctly. For skateboards, sticking to 1/16″ shock pads or 1/8″ risers can be a safe choice. While they can reduce wheel bite, they can also make your ride less stable and make landing tricks harder. If you are using risers to prevent wheel bite, it may be beneficial to consider smaller wheels instead.
Shock pads are a great addition for riders who frequently do tricks on large obstacles, they help to absorb impacts and prevent pressure cracks.
If you see skateboarders using extremely large 1/2″ riser pads, they are probably setting up a longboard or cruiser. Big soft wheels on a longboard will usually cause wheel bite and adding risers is a way to prevent this. If you want to use a cruiser to hop a few curbs, risers will be beneficial.
Portrait of Ruben Vee, the author of the article, with a skateboarding background
By: Ruben Vee
I’m an aged skateboarder and still shred responsibly. Started skateboarding 25 years ago, peaked in the 2000’s, and still ride to this day. I am a total geek when it comes to skateboard gear, love test to stuff and share my findings.
